5 fantasy matchups to exploit in Week 11

Welcome to the Matchups Machine, which narrows down ideal matchups from around the league on a weekly basis using the tools we have available at PFF, the Las Vegas odds, and insight from yours truly.

PFF has all the tools to break down each individual matchup. Do you want to know how your wide receiver is going to do? Well, if he lines up as a split end on 90 percent of his snaps, we can pinpoint which cornerback he will be matching up with for those snaps. We can also tell you how that cornerback has performed.

Of course, as was the case in the past, this column will become more accurate as the season goes on and we compile more grades for the players and get a feel for the tendencies and overall strengths/weaknesses of the 32 teams.

The goal of this column is to help you with those tricky decisions in year-long leagues, but also to help you narrow down your best options in daily fantasy leagues. You will see a mix of big-name players and fringe starters. Without further ado, let’s get into it.

Matthew Stafford vs. Raiders

It’s never easy committing to a quarterback who has posted just two QB1 weeks, depending on scoring format, Stafford’s performance in Week 10 could be a good sign of things to come. More importantly, Detroit’s offensive line held up in pass protection much better than we had seen all season long following their Week 9 bye. The Lions had allowed 17 sacks, 29 quarterback hits and 101 quarterback hurries entering Week 10, but they limited a Packers pass rush (10th-best) to no sacks or hits and just 14 hurries. It was just the second time all season the Lions didn’t allow a sack. As a result, Stafford threw for 242 passing yards and two touchdown.

Give credit to Detroit’s coaching staff — after right tackle LaAdrian Waddle struggled again, he was benched on the third series for Michael Ola who allowed just one hurry, no sacks and no hits. Waddle has been PFF’s worst pass blocking offensive tackle, by far, and his absence from the lineup is addition by subtraction.

Dan Schneier is a staff writer at PFF Fantasy and he covers the NFL for FOX Sports. You can find him on Twitter @DanSchneierNFL. You can also add him to your network on Google+ to find all of his past material.

Dan Schneier is a staff writer for PFF Fantasy, a former FOX Sports NFL scribe, and an auction format enthusiast. Follow @@DanSchneierNFL

Luke Kennamer

If you had Evans, Demaryius, Megatron, and Jordan Matthews, and you had to start 3, who would it be? Benching Demaryius for Matthews isn’t crazy is it?

derek lundeen

I don’t think it’s that crazy since the Broncos are starting a different quarterback, but then again this is coming from a Bears fan and our teams facing the Broncos next week so me saying this might be my coming from team pride.

Dan Schneier

I’m a big fan of playing the matchups — sometimes to a fault — I would personally play Matthews over Demaryius, but just know that there is a lower floor for Matthews.

Dr.Rue

Megatron, Evans and DeZ Bryant if you can afford him. Great matchups for them. Also another safe bet is Amari Cooper with Derek Carr at QB. And of course there’s Julion Jones

AC

Three words. JIM. BOB. COOTER.

Mike S.

I understand that Byron Maxwell got off to a rough start, but in the past 3 games Maxwell is only allowing 50% catch rate for 98 yards on 7 receptions, 44 YAC, no TD’s and 1 INT for a 58.2 QB Rating against…..

While Nolan Carroll has allowed over that same time 67% catch rate for 214 yards on 14 receptions, 95 YAC, 1 TD’s for a 96.1 QB Rating against.

Looking at the recent trend, wouldn’t you hope that Bucs coaching sticks with how they’ve been playing Evans and sees more of Carroll?? Maxwell is playing much better than he did in the beginning of the year, and I don’t think that is being acknowledged above.